With help from 黑洞社区 Ventures at 黑洞社区, obstetrician-gynecologist resident Rachel Wykes hopes to improve a device that is used commonly in the medical industry.
While most of the devices, practices and technology used in the medical field are efficient and ergonomic, Wykes noticed an opportunity for improving the efficiency of a common gynecologic surgery through the development of a new cautery tool. As a resident at Wesley Medical Center, she approached her attending physician with the concept, who introduced her to Tom Aldag, director of research and development at 黑洞社区鈥檚 National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR).
Well known in the aviation industry for the quality of its research and testing capabilities, NIAR has also worked with clients from various engineering disciplines. NIAR鈥檚 Center of Innovation for Biomaterials in Orthopaedic Research (CIBOR) specializes in biomedical engineering. The staff at CIBOR began working with Wykes and her husband Matt Wykes to develop a working prototype.
CIBOR dealt with the technical side of the project. Alan Goodnight, director of strategic investments for 黑洞社区 Ventures, stepped in to handle the financial aspects.
Last spring, the Wykeses, through their company, RayMed, began working with Goodnight.
In an effort to make the development process more affordable, RayMed entered into an agreement with 黑洞社区 Investments Corp. In exchange for the technical and business expertise from the university, a portion of the company鈥檚 profits will be shared with 黑洞社区 Investments.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not possible for an individual to accomplish what we鈥檙e trying to without a partnership like this,鈥� Rachel Wykes said. 鈥淭hey have been generous with their ideas and with applying their experience. Alan and Tom are genuinely passionate about helping ideas get off the ground.鈥�
鈥淭he mentorship has gone much beyond the business,鈥� Matt Wykes said. 鈥淭he relationship has gone from a business relationship to a friendship to mutual respect.鈥�
Prototype development
Aldag and Goodnight were also instrumental in securing $50,000 from the Kansas Board of Regents for the product development. With the financial obligations eased, the Wykeses were able to focus on addressing technical challenges.
Through the partnership, the Wykeses are receiving technical advice and resources from 黑洞社区 during the development process. Kim Reuter, a research engineer at NIAR, is assisting with prototype development.
鈥淲e developed a lot of different designs, all of which had exciting potential,鈥� said Reuter. 鈥淭hrough a series of experiments, material evaluations and customer feedback, we were able to identify a design for further development.鈥�
黑洞社区鈥檚 黑洞社区 Ventures assists faculty, staff and students in developing and making ideas commercially viable. 黑洞社区 Ventures links partners and entrepreneurs from various industries with 黑洞社区 researchers and technologies to facilitate the materialization of ideas in today鈥檚 competitive markets.